Watching movies and shows, reading books, hearing music: all of this is a large part of our culture.
But, growing up, we are sheltered; We don’t want to condone.
But this is life.
Right now—we are living it—life is happening constantly, consistently, currently.
Parents would like to protect innocent eyes, hearts, minds, ears, but this, the things we experience, the art, it portrays life.
It shows truths that are sometimes ugly and painful and controversial—and yet, they still want us to not know...
Looking at the home lives of so many, including my own, makes me wonder. I do not understand why you would want to create something that is so nice and perfect and perfect and wholesome and yes, BORING.
That is not how the world works.
That is not how living works.
That is not how parenting works.
And that is not how religion works.
Look at it this way: The only way you can truly get to know someone is by talking to them, discussing things with them, spending time with them, learning from them and letting them learn from you, and sadly, that is not how most child/parent relationships are.
But specifically the Christian ones… (looking at it as objectively as I can).
It concerns me that instead of introducing certain things to children and explaining why or why not it is considered ‘inappropriate’ or ‘unwise’ or whatever, we just try to avoid it—cover their eyes and ears and shelter them or pretend it doesn’t exist. And not just to protect them, but to not condone it, whatever it is.
But I don't think that that should be a concern! How possibly else to show them to best make choices and opinions for themselves? How possibly else to assure that they are not going to go finding and experimenting with all those things that you kept from them their whole lives the first chance they get? How else to trust them to make their own decisions and live their independent lives with a good head on their shoulders?
Television, music, books, dance, etc.—these are all types of art, and art is supposed to make you feel something and create perspectives and prompt discussions and such. It is supposed to make you feel and think, but we take that part of art away by considering it 'damaged, demoralized society' and making it ‘suitable for children.’
And then these children don’t realize reality or know how to adapt to it and the changing ways of the world.....
And the parents? They forget. They start to live in this cushioned bubble that they work so hard to create for their children. They have a relatively difficult time knowing what their children face and how to meet them where they are at, all because they don't want to condone...?
It seems a little bit broken.
I understand their concern, and no, I do not have children, so who am I to say, but looking at the perspectives of conservative households and different adults who are parents of now adults just makes me wonder if that ‘sheltered’ method is the best way.
But who am I to say?
